How the word for Sheep has changed

The origin and history of some of the European / Indo-European words for sheep

B ← A   indicates that the word in language B has evolved directly
from a word in language A, or at least a very similar language. For
example, Persian did not evolve directly from Avestan, but the Old
Persian texts lack the more extensive vocabulary of the similar     
Avestan language. Alternatively, the word could be borrowed        
from another language. English is full of words borrowed from      
Old French.

Abbreviations at bottom of page
* = hypothetical, reconstructed

GERMANIC
WEST GERMANIC

English

sheep ← M.Eng. schepe ← O.Eng. sceap ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Scots

sheep ← M.Sc. schepe ← O.Nth. scep ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Frisian
   North Frisian
      (Island)

Sjip ← O.Fris. skêp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

   North Frisian
      (Mainland)

schäip ← O.Fris. skêp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

   East Frisian

Schäip ← O.Fris. skêp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

   West Frisian

skiep ← O.Fris. skêp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Dutch

schaap ← M.Du. schaep, scaep ← O.Du. scâp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Afrikaans

skaap ← Dutch schaap ← M.Du. schaep, scaep ← O.Du. scâp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Plattdeutsch

Schaap ← M.L.G. schâp ← O.Sax. skâp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

East Friesland Platt

Schaap ← M.L.G. schâp ← O.Sax. skâp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Kölsch (Cologne)

Schof ← M.L.G. schâp ← O.Sax. skâp ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Luxemburgish

Schof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Moselle Platt Lorraine

Schoof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Rhine Platt Lorraine

Schoof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

German

Schaf ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Yiddish

scheps ← M.H.G. schopz, schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Alsace German

Schof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Swiss German

Schoof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Swabian

Schaf ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Bavarian

Schof ← M.H.G. schâf ← O.H.G. scâf ← Pr.W.Gmc. *skǣp ← Pr.Gmc. *skēpą ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


NORTH GERMANIC

Icelandic

sauður ← O.N. sauðr ← Pr.Gmc. *sauþaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Faroese

seyður ← O.N. sauðr ← Pr.Gmc. *sauþaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Norwegian (Nynorsk)   

sau ← O.N. sauðr ← Pr.Gmc. *sauþaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Norwegian

sau, får ← Rec.Dan. Faar ← O.Dan. far ← O.N. fær ← Pr.Gmc. *fahaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Danish

får ← Rec.Dan. Faar ← O.Dan. far ← O.N. fær ← Pr.Gmc. *fahaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Swedish

får ← O.Sw. far ← O.N. fær ← Pr.Gmc. *fahaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


EAST GERMANIC

Gothic (extinct)

lamb ← Pr.Gmc. *lambaz ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


CELTIC
GOIDELIC

Irish

caora ← Rec.Ir. caora ← O.Ir. cáera, ói ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Scottish Gaelic

caora ← O.Ir. cáera, ói ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Manx

keyrrey ← O.Ir. cáera, ói ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


BRITTONIC

Welsh

dafad ← E.Mod.W. davat ← M.W. davat ← Pr.Brit. *damat, *damatos ← Pr.Clt. *damato- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Cornish

davas ← K.K. davas ← Uni.C. davas ← Lt.C. davaz ← M.C. davas ← O.C. davat ← Pr.Brit. *damat, *damatos ← Pr.Clt. *damato- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Breton

dañvad ← Rec.Br. dañvad ← M.Br. davat ← Pr.Brit. *damat, *damatos ← Pr.Clt. *damato- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


GAULISH

Gaulish (extinct)

*multon- ← Pr.Clt. *moltos


ROMANCE
WEST ROMANCE

Walloon

moton ← O.Fr. mouton ( ← Gaulish *multon-), oue ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Picard

berbi ← O.Fr. mouton, oue ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Guernsey French

berbis ← O.N.F. berbiz ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Jersey French

mouton ← O.N.F. berbiz ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Gallo

mouton ← O.Fr. mouton ( ← Gaulish *multon-), oue ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

French

mouton ← O.Fr. mouton ( ← Gaulish *multon-), oue ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Haitian Creole

mouton ← French mouton ← O.Fr. mouton ( ← Gaulish *multon-), oue ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Auvergnat

mouton ← O.Pr. molton ( ← Gaulish *multon-) ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Gascon

moton ← O.Pr. molton ( ← Gaulish *multon-) ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Aranese

oelha ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Aragonese

ovella ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Asturian

oveya ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Galician

ovella ← O.Gal./Port. ovella ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Portuguese

ovelha ← O.Gal./Port. ovella ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Spanish

oveja ← O.Sp. ovega ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Valencian

ovella ← O.Cat. oveylla ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Catalan

ovella ← O.Cat. oveylla ← Lat. oviculam, ovicula; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Occitan

moton ← O.Pr. molton ( ← Gaulish *multon-) ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Provençal

móutoun ← O.Pr. molton ( ← Gaulish *multon-) ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Francoprovençal

feya ← Lat. fetam, feta; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Romansch

nursa ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

    Sursilvan Romansch

nuorsa ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

    Sutsilvan Romansch

nursa ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

    Surmiran Romansch

nursa ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

    Upper Engadine Romansch

bês-ch ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

    Lower Engadine Romansch

besch ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Ladin

biescia ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Friulan

piore ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Monégasque

mutun ( ← Gaulish *multon-) ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Ligurian

pëgoa ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Piedmontese

fèja ← Lat. fetam, feta; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Lombard

pégora ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Emilian

pîgra ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Venetian

piègora ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


ITALO-ROMANCE

Italian

pecora ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Corsican

pecura ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Neapolitan

pécura ← Lat. pecora; ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Sicilian

crastu ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


BALKAN ROMANCE

Romanian

oaie ← Lat. ovem, ovis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


SOUTHERN ROMANCE

Sardinian

   . . . .


GREEK

Greek

próvato ← Anc.Gk. ois, owis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


ANATOLIAN

Hittite (extinct)

*hawis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


ARMENIAN

Western Armenian

vočkhar ← O.Arm. oč‘xar

Eastern Armenian

vočkhar ← O.Arm. oč‘xar


ALBANIAN

Albanian

dele ← Pr.Alb. *dailjā ← Lt.I.E. *dhēl- ← Pr.I.E. dheh1l-


IRANIAN

Persian

gûsfand ← Av. anumaya-

Kurdish

pez ← Av. anumaya-


INDIC
NORTHERN INDIC

Nepali

bhēdā ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


WESTERN INDIC

Marathi

meṅḍhī ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


CENTRAL INDIC

Hindi

bheṛ ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Urdu

bheṛ ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


EASTERN INDIC

Bengali

bhēṛā ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


SOUTHERN INDIC

Sinhalese

baṭaḷuwan ← Pa. meṇḍa ← Skt. avi- ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


SLAVIC
WEST SLAVIC

Kashubian

òwca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Polish

owca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Lower Sorbian

wójca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Upper Sorbian

wowca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Czech

ovce ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Slovak

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


SOUTH SLAVIC

Slovene

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Croatian

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Bosnian

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Serbian

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Macedonian

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Bulgarian

ovca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


EAST SLAVIC

Russian

avca ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Belarusian

avječka ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Ukrainian

vivcja ← O.C.S. ovĭca ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


BALTIC

Lithuanian

avis ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis

Latvian

aita, avs ← Lt.I.E. *owis ← Pr.I.E. *h3ewis


FINNO-UGRIAN

Estonian

lammas ← Pr.Fi. *lambas ( ← Pr.Gmc. *lambaz)

Finnish

lammas ← Pr.Fi. *lambas ( ← Pr.Gmc. *lambaz)

Sami

sávza

Erzya

reve

Komi (Zyrian)

mež

Mansi (Vogul)

   . . . .

Hungarian

juh


BASQUE

Basque

ardi


SEMITIC

Arabic

ḥarûf

Hebrew

tson ← O.T.H. ṣōn

Aramaic

‘erwa ← N.T.A. neqyā’

Babylonian (extinct)

aslu


TURKIC

Turkish

koyun

Azerbaijani

qoyun




My other websites:
Languages of the World
New Nutshell
Christianity in a Nutshell

My wife's websites:
Meaning of Life
Bits


I’d like to share with you why I think Christianity is such a great religion. A person who lives to 70 has a life of 613,200 hours. Christianity promises that the next life will be in ideal surroundings with friendly, happy people. There will be perfect health and no crime. Of course you’re free to reject the offer of eternal life.

Isn’t it worth, though, spending at least part of one of your 613,200 hours just checking it out. Then if you reject it, at least you’ll have made an informed decision. Is it just possible that your world view could be wrong and Christianity might actually be true? Where would that leave you if you choose to turn down the offer of heaven?


These are some of my wife's thoughts and ideas:





Jesus said, referring to how He will judge people on Judgment Day, "Then the King will say to those who are at his right, 'Come, blessed ones of my Father, inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundation of the universe. For I was hungry and you gave me food and I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will say to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick, or in prison and visit you?’

The King will say, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"


Matthew 25,34-40




ABBREVIATIONS

Anc.Gk. = Ancient Greek (700 B.C. - 450 A.D.)
Av. = Avestan (600 B.C. - 400 B.C.)
E.Mod.W. = Early Modern Welsh (1450 - 1600)
K.K. = Kernewek Kemmyn - "Common Cornish" (1986 - 2008)
Lat. = Latin (75 B.C. - 250 A.D.)
Lt.C. = Late Cornish (1600 - 1891)
Lt.I.E. = Late Indo-European (2,500 B.C. - 2,000 B.C.)
M.Br. = Middle Breton (1100 - 1650)
M.C. = Middle Cornish (1200 - 1600)
M.Du. = Middle Dutch (1150 - 1500)
M.Eng. = Middle English (1150 - 1450)
M.H.G. = Middle High German (1050 - 1350)
M.L.G. = Middle Low German (1200 - 1600)
M.Sc. = Middle Scots (1450 - 1700)
M.W. = Middle Welsh (1200 - 1450)
N.T.A. = New Testament Aramaic (1st century A.D.)
O.Alb. = Old Albanian (1284 - 1908)
O.Arm. = Old Armenian (450 - 1050)
O.Br. = Old Breton (800 - 1100)
O.C. = Old Cornish (850- 1200)
O.C.S. = Old Church Slavonic (850 - 1050)
O.Cat. = Old Catalan (850 - 1550)
O.Dan. = Old Danish (1100 - 1536)
O.Du. = Old Dutch (450 - 1150)
O.Eng. = Old English (650 - 1150)
O.Fr. = Old French (750 - 1350)
O.Fris. = Old Frisian (750 - 1500)
O.Gal./Port. = Old Galician / Old Portuguese (775 - 1050)
O.H.G. = Old High German (400 - 1050)
O.Ir. = Old Irish (550 - 950)
O.It. = Old Italian (1150 - 1350)
O.N. = Old Norse (750 - 1350)
O.N.F. = Old Norman French (1000 - 1450)
O.Nth. = Old Northumbrian (650 - 1000)
O.Pol. = Old Polish (950 - 1550)
O.Pr. = Old Provençal (900 - 1400)
O.Sax. = Old Saxon (750 - 1150)
O.Sp. = Old Spanish (950 - 1400)
O.Sw. = Old Swedish (1225 - 1526)
O.T.H. = Old Testament Hebrew (1200 B.C. - 200 A.D.)
O.W. = Old Welsh (800 - 1200)
Pa. = Pali (50 B.C. - 400 A.D.)
Pr.Alb. = Proto-Albanian
Pr.Arm. = Proto-Armenian (c.1200 B.C.)
Pr.Brit. = Proto-Brittonic (500 B.C. - 550 A.D.)
Pr.Clt. = Proto-Celtic (1300 B.C. - 800 B.C.)
Pr.Fi. = Proto-Finnic (1200 B.C. - 800 A.D.)
Pr.Gmc. = Proto-Germanic (500 B.C. - 150 A.D.)
Pr.I.E. = Proto-Indo-European (4,500 B.C. - 2,500 B.C.)
Pr.It. = Proto-Italic (1,700 B.C. - 700 B.C.)
Pr.Sem. = Proto-Semitic (3,500 B.C.)
Pr.Ug. = Proto-Ugric (2000 B.C. - 1000 B.C.)
Pr.Ur. = Proto-Uralic (pre-2000 B.C.)
Pr.W.Gmc. = Proto-West Germanic (150 A.D. - 400 A.D.)
Rec.Br. = Recent Breton (pre-1941)
Rec.Dan. = Recent Danish (pre-1948)
Rec.Ir. = Recent Irish (pre-1947)
Skt. = Sanskrit (1,500 B.C. - 500 B.C.)
Uni.C. = Unified Cornish (1929 - 2008)
V.Lat. = Vulgar Latin (50 B.C. - 650 A.D.)


* = hypothetical, reconstructed


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